Hi all,I'm new here and could anywone tell me which is highest registered speed of springbok antelope?I was watchion on internet,some sources said that speed is 80km/hr,other sources 88km/hr,other over 90km/hr.Have anywone of you ever been in Khalahadi or Etosha and ask that question?Thank you all for future answers!!!!

I am not sure if anyone can give me info but on a recent trip to Kruger we came across a pride of lion with quite a few lions that had swollen "elbows". Has anyone seen this before and do you know what it is from?I will post photos if no-one knows what I mean.Thanks

Those swellings are hygromas (fluid filled sac around the joint). In Kruger they are generally associated with TB in lion (and often found on older lion correlating with their TB incidence) but in areas where there is no TB they are common in young lions. To my knowledge the exact causative agent has not yet been isolated but they often regress as the lion gets older. In these cases the swellings do not seem to be painful all.

Wikipedia wrote:

A hygroma is a false bursa that occurs over bony prominences and pressure points, especially in large breeds of dogs. Repeated trauma from lying on hard surfaces produces an inflammatory response, which results in a dense-walled, fluid-filled cavity. A soft, fluctuant, painless swelling develops over pressure points, especially the olecranon. If long-standing, severe inflammation may develop, and ulceration, infection, and fistulas may be present. The bursa contains a clear, yellow to red fluid.

In layman's terms it is a swelling that often develops when a joint, usually the elbow, keeps getting smacked on a hard surface. Think of it this way. If you walk through your living room and "whomp" (really hit) your shin on your coffee table as many times a day as your dog goes down on its elbows, your shin is going to swell up. If you do it long enough your body will start to produce a more permeant protective solution then the skin swelling called a bursa (fluid filled sack). Once you stop hitting your shin on the coffee table and the shin bone begins to heal the swelling will begin to go down. The same is true with your dog's elbow, once they stop traumatizing their elbows, the joint will begin to heal, as it heals, the body will absorb the fluid the joint has produced (hygroma) as a response to the repeated trauma.

What we thought about those lions in the lionpark makes perfect sense - the enclosure they were in had a pretty hard surface - there was grass but not a thick mat, plus their only "play things" were ramps and things made from wood...plus all those we saw with these lumps were young ones...

Strange to find them also having this in KNP though - would've thought they could stay off the hard stuff by choice (probably just like kids, they don't care if it swollen, cold, purple or black - just as long as its FUN!!!)

I wonder if you could help out with this one? I had been told before that besides the obvious differences between the male and female leopard, one can tell the difference by a marking/band across the chest/neck area of the leopard, is this true? Apparently the band is either soild or broken depending on the sex of the leopard

As far as I know, there is no way to tell the difference. Rosettes are unique for each individual. Males are more heavily built than the females, but it's difficult to tell in the field. Hope this helps

I have also heard that females "sport a little string of pearls" (the rosettes or spots form a crescent shape around her throat) and often wondered if this is just mere speculation or whether there is any truth in this.

PS. I am aware that each leopard has a unique pattern of rosettes / spots, just like human finger prints.

Maybe the boff's can enlighten us!

_________________"To be playing a part, no matter how small, in the conservation of our dwindling wildlife is an experience I shall always cherish." - Stuart Hilcove

Years ago, when I was a guest at Londolozi — where they "specialise" in leopards — I was told that the only reliable way to ID an individual leopard is by the unique pattern of whisker dots. So far as I know, there are no such ways to distinguish between males and females, only that, as WAC says, the males are usually significantly larger with a heavier build.

I've also heard a few theories of telling the differences and one day an "expert" on leopards was with my group on a game drive and on spotting one confirmed it was female. This went on for a good 20 minutes and we were convinced of it, or at least until the "she" leopard turned round to walk away and became a "he".There is no way to tell for sure with the markings but males are bigger and have a bigger skull.

_________________"You can leave Africa but Africa never leaves you"LIFE IS MADE OF GOOD AND BAD THINGS, I TAKE THE GOOD AND YOU CAN KEEP THE BAD!!!Andy Benaglia

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum